Rape, torture case moved

MULTIPLE charges of rape, torture, assault and animal cruelty levelled against a Southern Downs man have been transferred to the Brisbane courts.

The 55-year-old, who cannot be named due to legal reasons, was not in Toowoomba Magistrates Court when his charges were mentioned.

He has not yet been required to enter any pleas to the charges which include 12 counts of torture, four of rape, two of stalking, 10 of assault occasioning bodily harm, 16 of assault occasioning bodily harm while armed, five of common assault, four of domestic violence, three of animal cruelty, and one each of wilful damage, deprivation of liberty, entering premises, fraud, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and injuring animals.

Though no details have been aired in court, police claim the charges arise from incidents over the past 15 years in regions from Toowoomba to Chinchilla and Warwick.

Solicitor Phil Stainton, of Legal Aid Queensland's Toowoomba office, told the court he had been instructed to seek that all matters be transferred to Brisbane Magistrates Court for mention.

Magistrate Damian Carroll remanded the man in custody and transferred the case to Brisbane Magistrates Court for mention on April 4.